Ronnie O'Sullivan shot a maximum 147 at the World Open in Glasgow today – but only after being persuaded by the referee to pot the final black. The world No6 managed the feat during the final frame of a 3-0 win over Mark King, in a match where his volatility, genius and gift for the unexpected were all amply on display.

Earlier in the frame O'Sullivan had stopped to ask what the reward for a 147 was, only to be told there was no specific prize except for a £4,000 sum for the highest break. He took less than 10 minutes to reach 134 but shook hands with King after potting the pink. The referee, Jan Verhaas, then had to convince O'Sullivan to finish the break and he eventually potted the black before walking off.

"I wasn't going to pot the black because to make 147 and not really get a nice bonus was a bit disappointing because they are magical moments and they deserve magical bonuses," he said. "But the ref played a guilt trip on me and said: 'Come on, do it for your fans.' And I thought: 'OK, because I haven't got long to play anyway, so I might as well go out on a high.' But I wasn't going to pot it because four grand, once you've paid the taxes ..."

When asked whether he needed the money, O'Sullivan responded: "Twenty‑five [thousand] would have been nice so I could have gone on holiday."

It was O'Sullivan's 10th maximum in competition, taking him clear of Stephen Hendry, with whom he had previously jointly held this record. It was also the circuit's 73rd 147, 39 of which have been on television.

World Snooker has abolished bonuses for 147s this season except at the World Championship. As they have become too costly to insure against they could be maintained only by dipping into the round‑by‑round prize money.

O'Sullivan would in any event have been ill-advised not to complete his maximum as 140 would have been beatable as a highest break. The 34-year-old's victory sets up a fourth‑round match with his boyhood hero, Jimmy White, on Thursday.